MAYOR ADAMS SIGNS LEGISLATION BRINGING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO CITY YOUTH PROGRAMS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Intro. 54-A into law, amending the city’s administrative code to allow financial empowerment education in New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) programs.

 

“Financial literacy is a foundational skill for our young people, but far too many of our kids are being left behind,” said Mayor Adams. “As a young man, I never had information on how to save or how to be financially responsible. By signing this bill into law, we are helping our youth learn the skills they need to succeed financially. We want to help our children understand the power of investing and the power of saving to put them on the road to financial independence.”

 

“Ensuring that our young people are ready for what comes after high school is a top priority for this administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “Providing New York City youth with access to financial literacy helps get them on the pathway to a bright future and prepares them for the 21^st-century economy. Intro. 54-A will help equip our young people with the financial skills they need today, so they can build their tomorrow.”

 

“When I was a teen in the Summer Youth Employment Program, financial literacy was not part of the initiative — my mother had to teach me about budgeting and saving money before I spent all my hard-earned cash on sneakers,” said DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. “It was a forward-thinking Mayor Adams who insisted that financial literacy be a core component of SYEP, and our youth advocates worked with the administration to include it in our runaway and homeless youth programs. DYCD thanks the City Council for partnering with the administration to help prioritize our young people and support them on a path to a sound financial future.”

 

Intro. 54-A amends the administrative code of the City of New York to include financial empowerment education in DYCD programs. It codifies their financial literacy program in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and Runaway and Homeless Youth programs. The financial empowerment education includes instruction on personal finances, including banking, budgeting, credit, debt, saving, and taxes. The bill also expands financial empowerment education to include investment as a topic and has an annual reporting requirement of the number of participants and a description of the relevant empowerment education curriculum.

 

“I am proud that my financial literacy education bill, Intro. 54, for the Department of Youth and Community Development, is being signed by Mayor Adams today,” said New York City Councilmember Farah Louis. “The city is overdue in focusing on the financial toolkits our youth can utilize to be fiscally responsible and productive citizens, such as understanding personal banking, credit, and savings. This bill shows our commitment to end intergenerational poverty to build a more inclusive economy — providing real economic opportunities for all. This bill creates the structure for providers to offer courses and programs that provide the skill-building our youth need for economic stability and success, and will ensure that we are requiring intentionality, collaboration, and dedication to supporting youth in crisis from all of our agencies and partners to expand and elevate their futures.”

Justice Department Announces Settlement with J.R. Simplot to Improve Hazardous Waste Management and Reduce Emissions at Idaho Facility

 

Fertilizer Manufacturer Will Spend Nearly $150 Million To Reduce Environmental Impacts From Operations and Pay $1.5 Million Civil Penalty

 The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company involving Simplot’s Don Plant manufacturing facility located near Pocatello, Idaho.

The settlement resolves allegations primarily under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the facility, including that Simplot failed to properly identify and manage certain waste streams as hazardous wastes. The settlement requires Simplot to implement process modifications designed to enable greater recovery and reuse of phosphate, a valuable resource. The settlement also requires Simplot to ensure that financial resources will be available when the time comes for environmentally sound closure of the facility. Simplot will also pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million.

“After our 2020 settlement with Simplot’s phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant in Wyoming, we are pleased to reach this settlement with Simplot’s other major phosphoric acid and fertilizer operation at the Don Plant in Pocatello, Idaho,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This proposed consent decree will comprehensively address the waste management, air emissions and reporting issues EPA identified with respect to the Don Plant’s operations.”

“This is an important settlement which reduces the environmental impacts from one of the leading fertilizer manufacturers,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement advances EPA’s goals by creating environmentally beneficial waste management practices and ensures that the U.S. taxpayer will not be responsible for future costs associated with closure of this facility. Additionally, this settlement ensures that any future expansion of Simplot’s operations will be conducted according to strict requirements to minimize impacts to surrounding communities, including the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.” 

Simplot’s Don Plant facility manufactures phosphate products for agriculture and industry, including phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer, through processes that generate large quantities of acidic wastewater and a solid material called phosphogypsum. The phosphogypsum is deposited in a large pile known as a gypstack, and acidic wastewater is discharged to the gypstack. The gypstack, which has a capacity to hold several billion gallons of acidic wastewater, was fully lined in 2017 in accordance with a previous consent orders Simplot entered into with the State of Idaho and the United States.

The settlement also resolves alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that relate to fluoride emissions from the facility, and of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) that relate to reporting and notification requirements for hazardous substances and toxic chemicals.

Under the settlement, Simplot agrees to implement specific waste management measures it has valued at nearly $150 million. Significantly, these measures include extensive new efforts to recover and reuse the phosphate content within these wastes and avoid their disposal in the gypstack. Simplot will implement requirements that ensure gypstack stability and containment that will protect the environment even should climate change result in more severe weather events. The settlement also includes a detailed plan setting the terms for the future closure and long-term care of the gypstack. The settlement requires Simplot to immediately secure and maintain approximately $108 million in dedicated financing to ensure that funding will be available when the facility is eventually closed.

Simplot also agrees to cease operation of the facility’s cooling towers no later than June 27, 2026, and replace them with one or more newly constructed cooling ponds, which will significantly reduce fluoride emissions to the air. Additionally, Simplot agrees to submit revised Toxic Release Inventory forms for the years 2004-2013 that include estimates of certain metal compounds manufactured, processed or otherwise used at the facility.

In addition to paying the $1.5 million civil penalty, Simplot is providing $200,000 in funding for environmental mitigation work that will be administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in conjunction with the City of Pocatello and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The mitigation work will address habitat degradation on the Portneuf River that has resulted in part from excess phosphorus releases, especially from the facility’s formerly unlined gypstack.

“This settlement will bring important benefits to Idaho and the communities that have been affected by the Don Plant’s operations,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. “We are grateful that our state partner, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, helped formulate and will oversee work that Simplot will fund to mitigate the impacts of its phosphate operations on water quality and the environment along the Portneuf River, working in cooperation with both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the City of Pocatello.”

EPA previously required through judicial and administrative settlements at 14 phosphate fertilizer facilities across the U.S. extensive injunctive relief, requiring the companies to establish financial assurance and bring their operations into compliance with RCRA.

A consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. For a copy of the consent decree, visit www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

Senior Adviser To The Operator Of The Silk Road Online Black Market Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROGER THOMAS CLARK, a/k/a “Plural of Mongoose,” a/k/a “Variety Jones,” a/k/a “VJ,” a/k/a “cimon,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for conspiring to distribute massive quantities of narcotics, arising out of his role as the top adviser to Ross Ulbricht, a/k/a “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the owner and operator of the “Silk Road” online illicit black market.  During its operation from 2011 until 2013, Silk Road was used by thousands of drug dealers and other unlawful vendors to distribute illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services to more than 100,000 buyers and to launder hundreds of millions of dollars derived from those unlawful transactions.  CLARK advised Ulbricht on all aspects of the enterprise, including urging and facilitating an attempted murder-for-hire.  CLARK’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.  CLARK previously pled guilty before the late U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III on January 30, 2020.

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment, court filings, statements made in court, and evidence presented during the 2015 trial of Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road’s founder:

Ulbricht created Silk Road in approximately January 2011 and owned and operated the underground website until it was shut down by law enforcement in October 2013.  Silk Road emerged as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the Internet at the time and one of the first online marketplaces to exclusively use cryptocurrency to facilitate illegal transactions.  Silk Road was massive in scope; there were more than 1.5 million transactions on the site, involving more than 115,000 buyer accounts and 3,000 seller accounts.  These transactions had a total value of approximately $213 million, including more than $183 million in drug sales.  The drugs sold on Silk Road included more than 82 kilograms of cocaine and 26 kilograms of heroin.  Silk Road was also used to launder hundreds of millions of dollars deriving from these unlawful transactions.  Silk Road was specifically designed to allow its users to buy and sell drugs and other illegal goods and services anonymously and outside the reach of law enforcement through the use of the Tor network and a Bitcoin-based payment system.

In his journal, Ulbricht described CLARK as a “real mentor” who advised Ulbricht about, among other things, security vulnerabilities in the Silk Road site, technical infrastructure, the rules that governed Silk Road users and vendors, and the promotion of sales on Silk Road, including the sales of narcotics.  CLARK also provided advice to Ulbricht on developing a “cover story” to make it appear as though Ulbricht had sold Silk Road.  In addition, CLARK assisted Ulbricht with hiring a programmer to help improve and maintain the infrastructure of Silk Road.  CLARK also was responsible for gathering information to counter law enforcement’s efforts to investigate Silk Road.  CLARK advised Ulbricht on how to protect the Silk Road criminal empire.  For instance, when a Silk Road staff member was suspected of stealing approximately $350,000 in Bitcoin from the site, CLARK suggested to Ulbricht that Ulbricht commission a murder-for-hire.  Ulbricht took that suggestion.  Although the attempted murder-for-hire did not result in any harm to the intended target, Ulbricht paid the purported hitman $80,000 for the job.

In addition to his prison sentence, CLARK, 61, a citizen of Canada, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $1,606,150.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding joint efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation’s New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Chicago-O’Hare, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division, and the New York City Police Department.  Mr. Williams also thanked the HSI Attaché Bangkok, the Royal Thai Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their support and assistance. 

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR NEW YORK CITY METRO AND LONG ISLAND REGIONS

 

In Effect for Wednesday, July 12, 2023

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the New York City Metro and Long Island regions for Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

 

The pollutant of concern is: Ozone

                                                                                                             

The advisory will be in effect 11:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. 

 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

OZONE

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

 

Ozone is not a direct emission, and is produced indirectly when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High ozone isn't as visible as PM2.5 because it's a colorless gas, but it will produce hazy skies and reduce visibility in high concentrations.

 

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.

 

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities;
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) has been established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest Air Quality situation.

 

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5) / DOH's website (ozone).To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service.

 

The Wednesday, July 12, Air Quality Health Advisory regions consists of: New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; and Long Island which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES HISTORIC PROGRESS MOVING NEW YORKERS FROM SHELTER TO PERMANENT HOUSING

 

Just Two Weeks After Eliminating Longstanding 90-Day Rule, More Than 500 Additional Households Approved for CityFHEPS Vouchers

 

Adams Administration Has Connected Record Number of Households to CityFHEPS This Year, Increased Placements From Shelter Into Permanent Housing 17 Percent Year-Over-Year

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park today provided an update on the city’s record progress connecting New Yorkers living in city shelters to permanent housing. The update follows Mayor Adams’ signing of an emergency order eliminating the longstanding 90-day length-of-stay requirement for New Yorkers in shelter to be eligible for City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) housing vouchers — the largest city-funded rental assistance program in the nation. Following the removal of the 90-day rule, over 500 households that would have otherwise been required to wait 90 days before becoming eligible for a housing voucher immediately became eligible for CityFHEPS, bringing them one step closer to finding permanent housing.

 

Mayor Adams also today announced progress made over the past year to move New Yorkers from shelter to permanent housing. Technology, staffing, process, and training improvements made at DSS have led to an approximately 17-percent increase in shelter exits to permanent housing during Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), compared with Fiscal Year 2022 — a total of nearly 15,000 households in FY23. Additionally, more New Yorkers were connected to permanent housing using a CityFHEPS voucher during FY23 than in any year in the program’s history.

 

“Since taking office, we’ve taken action to cut red tape, improve our processes, and eliminate bureaucracy to get more New Yorkers into permanent housing,” said Mayor Adams. “I’m proud to share today that our efforts are working: We’ve increased shelter-to-permanent-housing placements 17 percent year over year, connected a record number of households to CityFHEPS vouchers this year, and, in the weeks since eliminating the 90-day rule, made over 500 households who would have had to wait until their 90 days passed already eligible for CityFHEPS. This is an all-hands-on deck moment, and New York City will continue to do everything in its power to address this housing crisis.”

 

“Eliminating the 90-day rule has increased access to CityFHEPS vouchers,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This, along with all the other efforts to create efficiencies in helping individuals and families move more quickly from shelter to stable housing, has shown promise with a record number of New Yorkers connected to CityFHEPS this past year. The administration will continue to explore every avenue to support individuals and families find a permanent home.”

 

“Mayor Adams’ commitment to cut red tape, especially for those experiencing homelessness, has allowed over 500 of our neighbors to accelerate their move into a safe, dignified home for the long term over the last few weeks,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “CityFHEPS vouchers had already proven themselves to be an effective tool for getting our fellow New Yorkers into stable, long-term housing options, and we are confident this change will continue to support New Yorkers in today’s housing crisis and for years to come.”

 

“Eliminating barriers to permanent housing, while also expanding access to city-funded rental assistance, has always been a top priority of this administration, and as a result of our robust CityFHEPS reforms and recent elimination of the 90-day rule, we are seeing real, measurable progress,” said DSS Commissioner Park. “In the last fiscal year, a record number of New Yorkers were able to utilize a CityFHEPS voucher to obtain affordable permanent housing. Since eliminating the 90-day rule, hundreds of additional households in shelter, who would have previously had to wait 90 days, have become eligible for CityFHEPS. We are moving more New Yorkers out of shelter and into safe, stable permanent housing because of the concerted efforts of this administration, and we remain laser-focused on building on these successes as we continue to focus our efforts on serving our most vulnerable neighbors.”

 

“New Yorkers with CityFHEPS vouchers are often burdened by a long, stressful process that makes it difficult to get the help they need,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Eliminating the 90-day rule and taking other steps to move New Yorkers into permanent housing faster puts us in a better position to help longtime New Yorkers who are experiencing homelessness, and I’m proud to be part of an administration that continues reducing barriers to housing.”

 

With more asylum seekers in the city’s care now than longtime unhoused New Yorkers, New York City continues to manage the unprecedented asylum seeker crisis largely on its own, and the Adams administration continues to build on progress to quickly move New Yorkers out of shelter and into permanent housing.

 

With a vacancy rate for affordable housing ranging between 1 and 5 percent, many New Yorkers have a difficult time finding an apartment. To address this issue, the Adams administration has focused on accelerating production of new housing and advancing development projects in neighborhoods around the five boroughs. Mayor Adams has also continued calls on the state to take action on a new affordable housing incentive program — easing conversion of vacant offices to housing and eliminating the cap on housing in Midtown Manhattan.

CONSUMER ALERT: New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Provides Tips to Avoid Door-to-Door Scams

 

Summer and Warmer Weather Bring Out More Door-to-Door Scammers; Learn the Common Types of Door-to-Door Scams and How to Avoid Them

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a  Variety of Topics 

Secretary Rodriguez: “To help you better understand how you can protect yourself, our Division of Consumer Protection is providing practical tips to help you identify a potential door-to-door scammer and avoid being cheated out of your hard-earned money.”

For this week’s “Tuesday’s Tips,” the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing New Yorkers tips to help avoid door-to-door scams. Summer and warmer weather often bring out more door-to-door scammers. These scammers impersonate legitimate salespeople and knock on your door offering to sell a product or service, but their primary goal is to steal from you. Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

“Many businesses rely on door-to-door sales, but it can be hard to know if the next time the doorbell rings it is a legitimate salesperson or a scammer,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “To help you better understand how you can protect yourself, our Division of Consumer Protection is providing practical tips to help you identify a potential door-to-door scammer and avoid being cheated out of your hard-earned money.”

Door-to-door scams have been around for years and are among the most common scams against older adults. Door-to-door scammers disguise themselves as employees with uniforms and badges or as college students employed in a part-time job. They often trick consumers into providing personal information or money. In some cases, they may even distract your attention so that their accomplice can sneak into your home to steal from you. To avoid getting cheated, below are a few examples and tips to avoid this type of scam.

Common Types of Door-to-Door Scams:

• Fake Solar Energy Providers: These imposters try to take advantage of consumers that are looking for sustainable power to fuel their homes and try to convince you to sign “enrollment forms” or “applications” with the attempt to steal personal information or perpetuate other fraudulent activities.

• Fake Utility Representatives: Fraudsters may pose as utility workers and say there’s a utility emergency they need to inspect. Many burglars work in pairs, as one gains your attention, the other sneaks into your home and steals. Ignore any “utility representative” that requests access to your home without scheduling with you in advance. Utility companies generally send a letter in advance to alert residents if they need access to their home or building.

• Home Improvement Scammers: Most good contractors are too busy to seek business at your front door. Be wary of contractors that knock on your door offering repairs or home improvement projects at a “bargain price” or because they have extra supplies left over from another project in your neighborhood. These scammers may be quick to disappear if the homeowner provides any type of payment upfront.

• Asphalt Paving Scam: Be wary of paving contractors who say they just happened to be in the neighborhood or have asphalt left over from another job. Reputable asphalt contractors know with great accuracy how much material they need to finish a job and don’t usually have any left over. These scammers may offer to pave your driveway for a deal that seems too good to be true, then once the work is finished, try to charge a higher price than originally quoted. The materials and workmanship are often very low quality leaving the homeowner with a failing or crumbling driveway, but by then, the scammer is long gone. Asphalt scammers may also begin to pave over or tear up your old driveway without your knowledge or permission, then demand a high payment. If that happens, call the police immediately.

• Fake Home Security Reps: According to the Federal Trade Commission, some fraudsters may come to your home to make fake home security offers. You’ll know it’s a scam if they claim that there have been several robberies in your neighborhood and they’re offering free security inspections. It’s also a sign of a scam if they say that they are there to upgrade or replace your existing security system or claim that your security company has gone out of business.

Tips to Avoid Door-to-Door Scams:

• Research the business: Most jurisdictions require that door-to-door solicitors obtain a license from the Municipal Clerk, Police Department or local consumer protection agency and carry a government-issued identification card. Some local laws regulate the hours when door-to-door solicitation can be conducted. Look for your local law. Just click on New York State and select your local government from the list provided to access the search page. (Hint: a good search term is "solicit.")

• Ask for identification: Always check the credentials of unknown callers and do not phone the number on the ID card, instead confirm that the number is legitimate by checking the company’s online website.

• Know the difference between a legitimate salesperson and a scammer. Legitimate salespeople will:
  • Identify themselves immediately and have a photo identification in sight.
  • Not use high-pressure sales tactics.
  • Respect a consumer's right to end the conversation or transaction at any time.
  • Give you time to do your research.
  • Explain verbally and in writing the cancellation policy.
  • Provide information about the offer/product in writing.

• Follow general safety precautions:
  • Always keep front and back doors locked.
  • Never pay in cash. A check or credit card payment may be cancelled online or by calling your bank’s customer service line.
  • Report any suspicious callers or activity to the police immediately.

• Know your rights. If you buy from a door-to-door seller and quickly regret it, know that under New York State law, consumers have three business days to opt out of a door-to-door sales contract. Sellers must provide written notification of the right to cancel. Additionally, federal lawallows you three business days to cancel and get a full refund on most purchases of $25 or more that are made in your home.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

ORANGE SKY, RED ALERT: NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RELEASES REVIEW OF CITY’S RESPONSE TO AIR QUALITY EMERGENCIES

 

A month after skies in New York City and across the East Coast were tinted orange with air pollution as a result of Canadian wildfire smoke, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released 'Orange Sky, Red Alert: A Review of Air Quality Emergencies in NYC.’ The report presents a series of recommendations to better prepare for future emergencies and protect New Yorkers from harmful air quality. This analysis comes as the City Council will hold an oversight hearing Wednesday on the city’s response to the June incident.

“Last month, a climate crisis overtook our city – and most New Yorkers were only aware of the hazard after the sky was orange and the air thick with smoke. Even as it was occurring, many had only a hazy understanding of the hazard,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams in releasing the report. “We had knowledge about this danger days in advance, but not the infrastructure to get that information to New Yorkers, or to quickly adapt and protect people from these hazardous conditions. Those orange skies should be a red alert about our city’s systems and readiness for future air quality emergencies. This review presents clear guidelines and common sense precautions we can put in place now to better share information and resources so that next time, our government’s response is not clouded by uncertainty or inaction.”

'Orange Sky, Red Alert' finds shortcomings in the city’s response to the air quality emergency, and particularly with the speed and scope of public notification and harm mitigation efforts. It notes that while some alerts about potential air quality concerns were available in the days prior to the worst of the crisis, the information about health risks was neither comprehensive nor circulated widely. Additionally, measures such as the postponing of outdoor activities and the shift to remote education were announced long after the crisis was underway, rather than sufficiently in advance or shortly after the crisis started, given the warnings and risk.

During each wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that our public notification procedures and crisis response times in the face of threats to public health were insufficient. This episode, the review argues, demonstrates that we have yet to fully adapt our systems based on the lessons learned.

After collaborating with officials from areas that experience more frequently detrimental air quality including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Seattle, and in anticipation of future air quality emergencies, the Office of the Public Advocate now recommends new policies, strategies, and systems including:

• Establishing a robust notification system for the public to take precautions

  • Systems can be based on existing notification models like the AMBER alert for automatic push notifications via television, radio, phone, etc.

  • Notify NYC Alerts should be updated with additional information detailing AQI scale and how each category impacts the population, and what steps the public can take. 

• Setting AQI standards for NYC schools to operate remotely

  • If AQI levels exceed 150—indicating that the air quality is ‘unhealthy’ to all—New York City public schools should operate remotely, based on existing precedent and the DOE policy for remote ‘snow days.’

  • The DOE should upgrade HVAC systems, air filters, and carbon dioxide monitors in schools

  • Students and municipal employees should be provided KN95 or N95 masks amid high AQI

• Providing worker protections against high AQI hazards 

  • Similar to schools, where possible, municipal workers should work remotely if AQI is over 150

  • The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) must update existing protections for workers to allow for paid sick leave and time off when necessary, hazard pay in certain circumstances, and measures to avoid prolonged exposure

• The City should create ‘Clean Air Centers’ in Public Buildings during high AQI

  • In addition to improved air quality inside, centers should be prepared to provide members of the public with the appropriate KN95 or N95 masks. 

  • New Yorkers should be informed about how to create clean air rooms at home

• Creating air quality infrastructure in the city and state 

  • New York State should create a regulatory air quality board and/or agency

  • NYC Emergency Management must update the Hazard Mitigation Plan and create an emergency operations plan for wildfire smoke

  • NYC Emergency Management should establish an ‘Air Quality Information Officer’ position

• Engaging the public on air quality awareness

  • Create an Air Quality Day of Action for information and resource sharing

  • Creating a ‘citizen’s network’ of air monitoring systems to track air quality throughout the city at different elevations and in different neighborhoods

• Funding a scientific report on  outdoor air quality in relation to urban infrastructure

Former Security Engineer For International Technology Company Arrested For Defrauding Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange

 

First Criminal Case Involving Attack on a Smart Contract Operated by Decentralized Exchange

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Chad Plantz, the Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Tyler Hatcher, the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging SHAKEEB AHMED with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his attack on a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (the “Crypto Exchange”).  AHMED was arrested this morning in New York, New York, and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. 

HSI Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz said: “Financial crime strikes at the core of our national and economic banking security.  With an attack of this magnitude, it’s crucial we ensure continued consumer confidence in our financial system.  Ruthless and reckless attempts aimed to sabotage legitimate commerce for greed must be stopped.  It’s cases like these that demonstrate HSI’s commitment and ability to work with a coalition of the willing to dismantle these complicated and technical fraud schemes and identify those responsible regardless of where they operate.”

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher said: “As alleged, Mr. Ahmed used his skills as a computer security engineer to steal millions of dollars.  He then allegedly tried to hide the stolen funds, but his skills were no match for IRS Criminal Investigation's Cyber Crimes Unit.  We, along with our partners at HSI and the Department of Justice, are at the forefront of cyber investigations and will track these fraudsters anywhere they try to hide and hold them accountable.”

As alleged in the Indictment:[1]

The Crypto Exchange was incorporated overseas and operates on the Solana blockchain.  At all relevant times, the Crypto Exchange allowed users to exchange different kinds of cryptocurrencies and paid fees to users who deposited cryptocurrency to provide liquidity on the Crypto Exchange. 

In July 2022, AHMED carried out an attack on the Crypto Exchange by exploiting a vulnerability in one of the Crypto Exchange’s smart contracts and inserting fake pricing data to fraudulently cause that smart contract to generate approximately $9 million dollars’ worth of inflated fees that AHMED did not legitimately earn, which fees AHMED was able to withdraw from the Crypto Exchange in the form of cryptocurrency.  This conduct defrauded the Crypto Exchange and its users, whose cryptocurrency AHMED had fraudulently obtained.  Additional details regarding the attack, including AHMED’s use of cryptocurrency “flash loans” to further defraud the Crypto Exchange, are described in the Indictment publicly filed today.  

After he stole the fees he never legitimately earned, AHMED had communications with the Crypto Exchange in which he decided to return all of the stolen funds except for $1.5 million if the Crypto Exchange agreed not to refer the attack to law enforcement.  

At the time of the attack, AHMED was a senior security engineer for an international technology company whose resume reflected skills in, among other things, reverse engineering smart contracts and blockchain audits, which are some of the specialized skills AHMED used to execute the attack.  

AHMED laundered the millions in fees that he stole from the Crypto Exchange to conceal their source and ownership, including through (i) conducting token-swap transactions, (ii) “bridging” fraud proceeds from the Solana blockchain over to the Ethereum blockchain, (iii) exchanging fraud proceeds into Monero, an anonymized and particularly difficult cryptocurrency to trace, and (iv) using overseas cryptocurrency exchanges.

After the attack, AHMED searched online for information about the attack, his own criminal liability, criminal defense attorneys with expertise in similar cases, law enforcement’s ability to successfully investigate the attack, and fleeing the United States to avoid criminal charges.  For example, approximately two days after the attack, AHMED conducted an internet search for the term “defi hack,” read several news articles about the hack of the Crypto Exchange, and visited several pages on the Crypto Exchange’s website.  As another example, AHMED conducted internet searches or visited websites related to the charges in the indictment, including by searching for the term “wire fraud” and for the term “evidence laundering.”  Finally, AHMED also conducted internet searches or visited websites related to his ability to flee the United States, avoid extradition, and keep his stolen cryptocurrency: he searched for the terms “can I cross border with crypto,” “how to stop federal government from seizing assets,” and “buying citizenship”; and he visited a website titled “16 Countries Where Your Investments Can Buy Citizenship . . .”

AHMED, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of HSI and IRS-CI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California for their assistance in the investigation.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.